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2 SheetsSheet 1. L. S. BUPPINGTON & W. 0. JONES.

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ELECTRIC ELEVATOR CONTROLLER. No. 530,578.

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2 SheetsS11eet 2.

L. S. BUPPiNGTON & W. O. JONES. ELEOTRIO ELEVATOR CONTROLLER.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEROY S. BUFFINGTON, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, AND \VALTER CLYDE JONES,OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC ELEVATOR-CONTROLLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 530,578, dated December11, 1894. Application filed February 28, 1894. Serial No. 501,116. (Nomodel.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that we, LEROY S. BUFFING- TON, residing at Minneapolis,county of Honnepin, and State of Minnesota, and WALTER CLYDE JONES,residing at Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, citizens ofthe United States, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inElectric Elevator- Controllers, (Case No.1) of which the following is afull, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

Our invention relates to electric elevator controllers, and moreparticularly to means for automatically controlling the elevator car andthe elevatordoors.

The object of our invention is, first, to provide means forautomatically bringing the elevator car to rest opposite-any floor;secend, to provide means for antomaticaliy opening and closing the'elevator doors without positively connecting the same with the movingelevator carat any time; and, third, to provide an elevator system whichwill be more automatic in its operation than systems heretofore in use.

Our invention consists, first, in an elevator system comprising anelectro-magnetic device for controlling the motive power, switches, atthe s'everal floors, which may be designated floor switches, which areadapted to be actn-.

I ated to control the circuit through the controlling electro-magneticdevice; electro-mag' netic devices adapted t'o'control the'position ofthe floor switches, whereby the same may or may not be engaged by themoving elevator car, and switching apparatus carried upon the elevatorcar and adapted to control the electro-magnetic devices that control thefloor switches.

Our invention consists, second, in an elevator door suspended from andadapted to slide upon a pivotedbar serving as a track, the bar normallyresting with its free end at a less elevation than the pivoted end,airinbar by engagement with the moving elevator;

car, the bar being thereby inclined in a reverse direction, whereby thedoor is caused to slide open, means. being also provided whereby theoperator may release the pivoted bar permitting thesame to return to itsnormal position to cause the door to close.

Ou-r invention consists, third, in an elevator system comprising anelectromagnetic device for controlling the motive power, switches at theseveral floors, adapted to be'actuated by the movement ofthe severaldoors to control the circuit through the power controllingelectromagnetic device, elevator doors adapted to operate in theirmovement the several floor switches, and switching apparatus carriedupon the elevator car and under the control 6 5 of the operator forplacing the elevator doors in condition to be actuated by the movingelevator car.

Our invention consists, fourth, in such other constructions as will behereinafter described. y

We believe that it has not heretofore been proposed to automaticallybring the elevator car to rest at any predetermined floor through theagency of apparatuscontrolled by the op- 7 5 erator in the car. In thesystem of our invention, as hereinafter illustrated, the operator isprovided with switching apparatus placed in the car, which may comprisea lever moving over a series of contact points, by means of which he mayclose circuit through any one'of a number of electro-magnets placed uponthe wall of the elevator shaft at the respective floors. The closing ofthe circuit through one L of the electro-magnets serves to place thecircuit closing element of a door switch in the path of a projectionupon the elevator car. The movement of the elevator carserves to actuatethe floor switch an instant before-the car reaches the level'of thefioor where it is desired to stop, and the actuation of the floor switchcloses circuit through an electro-mag-- netic device, which, whenexcited, cuts ofi the motive power and brings the car to rest. anelectric elevator system the motive power 4 is derived from the motor,and the excitation In starting the car again it is too means of theswitching apparatus on the car when the floor switch will, through theresiliency of a spring, or otherwise, open the circuit through theelectro-magnetic device controlling the motive power. The armatureswitch may be adapted to be closed through the resiliency of a spring,or otherwise, and the brake may be thrown oti tlTFough the agency ofcompressed air in a well known manner.

To secure automatic operation of the elevator doors each is suspendedfrom and adapted to slide upon a bar, serving as a track, said bar beingpivoted at one end and normally resting with its free end at a lesselevation than its pivoted end, an inclination being thereby imparted tothe bar which serves to maintain the door in a'closed position. Upo'nthe'end of said,- bar, as well as upon a bar adapted to be engaged bythe car in its downwardtravel, is provided a tongue adapted to be movedinto or out of the path of a projection on the elevator car, through theagency of an electro-magnet carried upon the end of said bar. Thecircuit of the electro-magnet extends to the elevator car, whereby theoperator may close or open circuit through the same to cause the tongueto move into or out of the path of the projection, as desired. When thetongue is moved into the path of the projection on the car, the movementof the car raises the free end of the pivoted bar, thus imparting to itan inclination in a reverse direction, thereby causing the door toopenbyslidingdown theinclined track thus produced. The door being thusopened, the tongue may be withdrawn from engagement with the projectionon the car, thus permitting the free end of the pivoted bar to descend,imparting to the same an inclination in a direction to cause the door toclose.

We are enabled to produce an entirely automatic elevator system by soplacing the floor switches that they will be operated by the opening ofthe elevator door, circuit being preferably maintained open through theelectromagnetic device that controls the motive power, so long as thedoor remains closed, and closed so long as the door remains opened. Bythis construction the operator is able at will to placeany door inposition to be opened by the car, and the door at the instant ofstarting operates the means provided for bringing the car to rest. Whenit is desired to start the car the operator can withdraw the tongue,thereby permitting the door to close. The door at the instant of closingoperates the means provided for starting the car. The only attentionrequisite on the part of the operator is to properly manipulate theswitching apparatus upon the car.

Our invention will be more readily understood by reference to theaccompanying draw-' ings, in which- Figure l is a diagrammaticrepresentation of an elevator system equipped after our invention theelevator car beingshown in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a view showing thefloor switch in a position to close circuit through the electromagneticdevice controlling the motive power. Fig. 3 is asimilar view showing theposition assumedby the switch when the electro-magnet is de-energized,the circuit being thereby opened. Fig. 4 is a diagramm'atic view of asystem equipped after our invention, the door being adaptedto beautomatically opened and closed, and the car being adapted to be broughtto rest opposite any desired floor automatically; the elevator car beingshown in dotted lines. Fig. 5 is a view showing the door in its openedposition, the projection on the elevator car being shown in dottedlines. ators switching apparatus.

Like letters and numerals refer to like parts throughout the severalfigures.

In Fig. l we have illustrated that part of our invention which relatesto the automatic stopping of the elevator car opposite the desiredfloor. At each floor is provided an electromagnetic device and a switch.The electromagnetic device may be in the form of an electro-magnet aacting upon an armature carried upon the end of a pivoted lover a. Theother end of the lever a is connected with the longitudinally movablerod a supported in a bearingand carrying upon its end the switch leverapivoted thereto and adapted to make contact with contact points a or (1To the rod a. and the switch lever a is attached a spring a which tendsto maintain said rod and lever in a straight line and to re turn thelever to this position when displaced to either side.

Upon the elevator car is provided a projecover a series of contactpoints 1, 2, 3, 4. The

contact arm is electrically connected withone side of an electriccircuit, while each of the contact points is connected with one terminalof one of the electro-magnets placed at the several floors. Thus contactpoint 3 is connected with electro-magnet a at the third fiber, andcontact point 4 is connected with the electro-magnet at the fourthfloor. We have not illustrated the switching apparatus at the first andsecond floors but such apparatus may be the same as that illustrated atthe third and fourth floors. The other terminal of each of theelectro-magnets is connected with a 'common wire a extending to theother side of the source of electricity. When the. contact arm 0 restsupon a contact Fig. 6 is a view of the oper- 'too 55 3., thereby closingcircuit through electropoint, as, for instance, contact point 3, one ofthe electro-magnets will be excited and the switch will be placed inposition to be engaged by the elevator car. Thus, as illustrated,thecontact arm is on contact point 3 andthe switch at the third floor is inposition to be engaged by the car. also means for operating a reversingswitch (1. This may consist of an arm (1 connected with one side of anelectric circuit and adapted to make contact with terminal points cl dconnected respectively through solenoids d d to the other side of thecircuit. When the arm rests on one contact point one of the solenoids isexcited and acts upon its core to place the switch in one position, andwhen it rests upon-theother the position of the switch is 1 reversed.

The reversing switch is included in circuit with the armature of themotor e, as is also a rheostat 72 comprising terminal points betweenwhich are included resistance coils,

and an arm h adapted to be moved over the" terminal points.

To the arm is secured the core h of a solenoid h in such'manner thatwhen the solenoid is excited the arm will be caused to traverse theterminal points. The

solenoid h is included in circuit with the supply until the magnetz' isenergized, when the valve is operated to open the cylinder to theexternal air and-to cut ofl. the compressed air supply. The compressedair being removed from beneath the piston e the latter descends, due tothe weight on the end of the lever, thus causing the friction band togrip the pulley and bring the motor armature to rest. y

The operation'of the system, as thus described, is as follows: Supposethe car in the act of ascending and the operator desirous of stoppingatthe third floor. The contact arm 0 is moved to make contact withterminal point magnet a, which, being excited, attracts its armature tothrust the lever a into the path of the projection 11 on the elevatorcar. The projection hen the car inits ascent impinges against lever acausing the same to make contact with contact point d thereby closingcircuit through solenoid 7L. Solenoid h being excited attracts its coreh, thereby caus ing contact arm 71 to move over the terminal points togradually cut resistance out of and finally open the armature circuit.At the in- In the car is provided.

A valve (2 is ing circuit through gnagnet 2 which attracts I itsarmature to out ofii the supply of com pressed air and open the cylindere to the external-air, thereby permitting the setting of the brake whichbrings the motor armature, and, consequently, the elevator car, to 7rest. When it is desired to start again the contact arm a is moved tosome .other position, magnet a. being thereby de-energized to permit thespring attached to lever a to draw back the lever a out of the path ofthe projection I), the spring a then acting upon lever a to cause it tobreak contact with terminal a. Circuit being thus opened throughsolenoid h, the spring it causes arm h -to move to break circuit throughmagnet 2', thereby re leasing the brake, and to close circuit throughthe motor armature and then to cut resistance from the armature circuit,thus starting the elevator car. The car is automatically stopped at thefloor corresponding to theterminal with which the arm 0 makes contact,and during the travel the arm 0 may be moved slightly in advance of thecar so that the car may be stopped at any floor that may be calledwithout reversing the motion of the arm 0. When it is desired to descendthe 'arm 01' is moved to operate the reversing switch and change thedirection of the current through the armature.

In Fig.4. we have illustrated the above described systemof automaticallystopping the elevator car in connection with means for automaticallyopening and closingthe elevator doors. The door ispivotally suspendedfrom a bar k provided with rollers running upon the inclined bar Zas atrack. The bar Zis pivoted at Z. A lever Z pivoted at Z is provided witha pin Z in its end adapted to work in a slot insaid bar 1, so that whenthe end of lever Z is depressed the free end of bar Z is raised. Uponthe end of barl is provided a tongue m. adapted to slide back and forthso that the end thereof may in one position extend beyond the end of thebar Z. To thetongue is connected at pivoted lever carrying upon one endthe armature of a magnet m, which, when excited, attracts said armatureto cause said tongue to extend beyond the end of the bar. A similartongue is provided upon the end of lever Z and is similarly operated bya magnet m The elevator is provided with switching apparatus similar tothat described in connection with Fig. 1, and the motor connect-ions andthe brake are similar. Instead of floor switches adapted to be actedupon directly by the moving car, a switch it is provided adapted tofbeactuatedby'the door. Such a switch is provided at each floor and theyare connected with the solenoid 72. in the samemanner as heretoforedescribed. \Vhen the door is opened the switch is adapted to close thecircuit through the solenoid 71. and to maintain the circuit open solong as the door is closed. The switch may be of any well known form, asforinstance, a contact plate n form: ing one terminal of the circuit anda plate a formingth'e other terminal, the plate n being held out ofcontact with plate or. while the door is closed, but being adapted toclose against the same when the door is opened. Upon the elevator carare provided projections 0 0', one in the path of tongue m, and the-other in the path of tongue m projection o being so pivoted that itwill permit the passage of ii pm on the downward travel of'thecar, butwill engage therewith on the upward travel. Likewise projection 0'engages with tongue m on the downward travel, but not on the upwardtravel.

The operation of the system, as above described, is as follows: The carbeing in its upward travel and it being desired to stop at, say, thethird floor, the operator moves arm 0 to terminal 3s Circuit is thusclosed through the magnets m, m causing the tongues m and 'm to bethrust forward. As the car con tinues the projection 0 impinges againsttongue m, thereby raising the end of bar l, imparting to the same aninclination such that the door is caused to open by sliding down theinclined track thus produced. As the door opens the switch it closes thecircuit through the solenoid h The latter is excited to attract itscore,causing the arm 71,

.to move over the terminal points andopen the armature circuit and throwon thebrake, in a manner heretofore described. When it is desired toagain start the car, the contact arm a is moved from terminal 3, therebyopening the circuit through magnet m to de-energize the same and permitthe tongue m to be withdrawn from engagement with the projection 0, dueto the reaction of aspring. The end of bar Z being thus unsupported thesame descends and impartsto the bar an inclination such that the openeddoor is caused to close by sliding down the inclined track. When thedoor completes its travel the switch n is opened, thus de-energizing thesolenoid h and starting the elevator car in. a manner heretoforedescribed. When it is desired to descend, the arm d is moved to operatethe reversing switch to change the direction of the current through thearmature, and, consequently, the direction of t-ravel'of -the elevatorcar.

The arm' (1 may be preferably mounted upon the arm 0, as illustrated inFig. 6, in which the arm cl is connected with the handle d which 'isadapted to be given a slight rotary motion whereby said arm (2' may makecontact alternately with contact points d d carried upon the arm 0. Whenthe handleis at one or the other end of its-stroke circuit will beclosed through one of the solenoids of abled to control the car with theuse of but,

one hand. i

It is evident that many of the operations of the system as hereindescribed'may be accomplished by other means and in a different mannerwithout departing from our invention. We desire, therefore,-to claimbroadly the features specified in the several clauses of claim.

Having described our inventiomwhat we.

claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- I v 1. In anelevator system, the combination with an electromagnetic device adaptedto control the motive power, of a switch adapted to control theoperation of said electromagnetic device, an electro magnetic deviceadapted to place an element in position to be engaged-by the movingelevatorcar and thereby to cause the actuation of said switch,an-d

switching apparatus provided upon the ole vator car in electricalconnection with said second mentioned electromagnetic device and adaptedto. control the'same, substantially as described.

2. In an elevator system, the combination with an electro-magneticdevice adapted to control the motive power, of a switch adapted tocontrol the operation of said electro-magnetic device, anelectromagnetic device, an element adapted to be placed thereby inposition to be engaged by the moving elevator car and thereby to causethe opening of the elevator door, said door being adapted in itsmovementto actuate said switch, and switch- ,ing apparatus provided uponthe elevator car and adapted to control said second mentionedeleotro-magnetic device, substantially as described.

3. In an elevator system, the combination 1 with anelectro-magneticdevice adapted to control the motive power, of a switchadapted to control the operation of said electro-magnetic device, apivoted bar, an elevator door suspended therefrom, anelectro-magnet'icdevice, an element adapted to be placed thereby with a pivoted bar, ofan elevator door suspended therefrom, and means for raising and loweringthe free end of said pivoted bar to effect the opening and closing ofthe elevator door, substantially as described. 7

5. In an elevator system, the combination with a pivoted bar, of anelevator door suspended therefrom, an electromagnetic device engaged bythe moving elevator car, and.

thereby to raise theend of said pivoted bar I to cause said door toopen, and" switching apparatus provided in the elevator car adapted,

tocontrol'said electro-magnetic device, substantially as described.

6. In an elevator system,- the combination with switches provided at theseveralfloors, of motor mechanism controlledby said switches, saidswitches being adapted to be actuated through the agency of the movingelevator car, and electromagnetic devices controlled from the car forpredetermining the switch to be actuated; whereby the car 'maybe'brought. to rest opposite any floor,

substantially as described.

7. In an elevator system, the combination with a contact arm adapted tobe moved over a series of contact points, of circuit connections throughsaid arm and contact points for controlling the movementof the elevatorcar,

a lever pivoted upon said arm, a pair of con tact points carried uponthe 'said arm and adapted to be alternately engaged by said lever, andcircuit connections through the lever and the pair of contact pointsadapted to control the direction of movement of the car, substantiallyas described.

for opening and closing the same through the agency of the weight of thedoor; a

9. The combination with a laterally sliding elevator door, of means foropening the same through the agency of the weight of the door;

10. The combination with a laterally sliding elevator door, of meansforraising the center of gravity of the same by the movement of theelevatorcar, and means for opening-the door by the descent of the centerof gravity of the door.

.11. The combination with a laterally sliding elevator door, of .meansfor raising the center of gravity of the same by the move-' ment of theelevator car, mechanism for opening the door by the descent of thecenter of gravity, and means for closing the door by the descent of'thecenter of gravity:

12. The combination'with an elevator door,

of meansfor opening the same through the agency of the moving elevatorcar, and a device for automatically stopping the car by the opening ofthe door, substantially as described. v

13. The combination with an elevator door,

of means for opening the same through the of the door', substantially asdescribed.

' 8.. The combination with a laterally sliding elevator door, of dooropening mechanism 15. The combination with an elevator door, of a movingelevator car, mechanism independent of the motion of the car for automatically opening said door, adevice actuated by the moving elevator caradapted to place saidmechanism in condition to open the door,and meansfor automatically stopping the car by the openingof the door.

16. The combination with an elevator door, of the elevator car, anelectric switch thereon, an electro-magnetic device controlled therebyand means for opening the door through the agency of the moving car,said means being placed in operative condition by saidelectromagneticdevice.

17. The combination with an elevator door, of the elevator car, anelectric switch thereon, an eIectro-maguetic device controlled therebyand means for opening the door through the agency of the moving car,said means being placed in operative condition by said electromagneticdevice, and means for automatically stopping the car by the opening ofthe door.

18. The combination with an elevator door, of the elevator car, anelectric switch thereon, an electromagnetic device controlled thereby,means for opening the door through the agency of the moving car, saidmeans being placed in operative condition by said electromagneticdevice, andmeans for automatically starting the car from rest by theclosing of the 'door.

19. The combination with an elevator door, of the elevator car, anelectric switch thereon,

an electromagnetic device controlled thereby, means for opening the doorthrough the agency of the moving car, said means being placed indperative condition by said electro magnetic device, means forautomatically stopping the car by the opening of the door, and means forautomatically starting the car from rest by the closing of the door.

20. The combination with an elevator car, of an elevator door, mechanismindependent of the motion of the elevator car for opening the door, saidmeans being controlled in its time of operation by the movementof thecar, a device actuated by the opening of the door for bringing the carto rest, and mechanism for starting the car from rest by the closing ofthe door, substantially as described.

by said electromagnetic device, said car be- 1 ing adapted to engage thesame to throw said door opening mechanism into operation, substantiallyas described.

22. The combination with an elevator car, of an elevator door, mechanismindependent of the motion of the car for opening the same, anelectro-magnetic device, a switch upon the car for operating the same, amovable element adapted to be moved into the path-of the car by saidelectro-magnetic device, said car be-. ing adapted to engage the same tothrow said door opening mechanism into operation, and

a switch controlled by said door for throwing on and off the motivepower.

23. The combination with an elevator car, 'of an elevator door adaptedto be opened through the agency of the moving car, an electric switchcontrolled by said door, an electromagnetic device controlled by saidswitch, and motive mechanism adapted to move said car, controlled bysaid electromagnetic device.

24. The combination with an elevator car of a. series of contactterminals located thereon and connected respectively throughelectromagnetic'devices located at the several floors, a contact armadapted to make contact with any one of said terminals to close circuitthrough the respective electromagnetic devices, and mechanism controlledby said electro-magrietic devices for bringing the elevator car to restopposite the respective floors.

. In witness whereof we hereunto subscribe our names this 27th day ofOctober, A., D.

